Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 006353
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Resilient Agroecosystems in a Changing Climate Challenge Area is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) focused on helping US agriculture and forest systems cope with climate variability and long-term climate change. The program is designed to fund work that helps farming, ranching, and forest land management adapt to current and future conditions, including more frequent or severe droughts and other extreme events. At its core, the opportunity targets practical, science-based solutions that can sustain or increase productivity while also protecting natural resources and environmental quality.
The central purpose of the challenge area is to support projects that improve resilience across agroecosystems and managed forest lands. NIFA highlights several connected outcomes: maintaining or boosting production under changing climate conditions; using soil and water resources more efficiently; and improving soil, water, and air conditions rather than degrading them. The opportunity is framed around the reality that land managers are already dealing with more variable weather, especially water-related stressors such as more intense drought and flood patterns, along with a lengthening growing season that has been observed over recent decades. The expectation is that funded research and related activities will translate into on-the-ground improvements, such as better management systems (for example, strategies for irrigation efficiency, soil moisture conservation, nutrient management, or risk-reducing cropping practices) and improved crop varieties better suited to a more variable environment.
A key long-term goal is to reduce the environmental footprint of the food and agriculture system while still supporting a productive and economically viable supply of food, feed, fiber, and fuel. In other words, resilience is not treated as a narrow yield-stability issue; it is tied to broader sustainability outcomes such as conserving water, protecting soils, and improving overall environmental conditions. Projects under this challenge area are therefore expected to connect climate adaptation with resource stewardship, and to produce results that can inform decision-making by producers, land managers, and related stakeholders.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.310. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 006353, and the funding instrument is a grant. The posted award ceiling is $1,200,000 per award. The original closing date listed for applications was July 13, 2017, and the opportunity record was created on April 17, 2017. While the listing notes the expected awards field without a specific number, applicants should typically consult the full Request for Applications (RFA) for program area allocations, target numbers of awards (if provided), and any additional budget guidance.
Eligibility is emphasized as a critical compliance point. Applications can only be submitted by entities that meet the eligibility rules, and those rules depend on the specific project type. The full range of project types and their eligibility requirements are described in the RFA (referenced as beginning in Part II, C). Applicants must also directly address the program area priorities and meet the deadlines laid out in the RFA. The notice also makes clear that failing to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline can cause an application to be excluded from consideration, or even if reviewed, can prevent NIFA from making an award. At the same time, award recipients are allowed to subcontract to organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the work.
Overall, this grant opportunity is aimed at advancing research and associated efforts that help agricultural and forest systems remain productive under climate stress, with strong emphasis on water and soil resource efficiency, adaptation to extreme events and variability, and improved environmental outcomes. The strongest proposals are typically those that align tightly with the specified program priorities in the RFA, demonstrate clear pathways from research to usable outcomes for land managers, and show how the work will reduce risk and environmental impacts while sustaining production in a changing climate.Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 006353
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Resilient Agroecosystems in a Changing Climate Challenge Area" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-04-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-07-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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AFRI Resilient Agroecosystems in a Changing Climate (USDA NIFA) - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) "Resilient Agroecosystems in a Changing Climate" Challenge Area, a competitive grant opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports work that helps US agriculture and forest systems cope with climate variability and long-term climate change.
What is the main goal of the Resilient Agroecosystems Challenge Area?
The central purpose is to support projects that improve resilience across agroecosystems and managed forest lands, so they remain productive under changing climate conditions while also protecting natural resources and environmental quality.
What kinds of problems is this program trying to address?
The program is framed around climate-driven challenges that land managers are already facing, including more variable weather and water-related stressors such as more intense or severe droughts, flood patterns, and other extreme events. It also notes a lengthening growing season observed over recent decades.
What outcomes does NIFA emphasize for funded projects?
NIFA highlights connected outcomes that include maintaining or boosting production under changing climate conditions, using soil and water resources more efficiently, and improving soil, water, and air conditions rather than degrading them.
Is the focus only on yield stability and production?
No. The opportunity treats resilience as broader than yield stability. It links resilience to sustainability goals such as conserving water, protecting soils, and improving overall environmental conditions, with an emphasis on reducing the environmental footprint of the food and agriculture system while supporting an economically viable supply of food, feed, fiber, and fuel.
What types of solutions does the opportunity encourage?
It targets practical, science-based solutions that translate into on-the-ground improvements. Examples mentioned include improved management systems (such as irrigation efficiency strategies, soil moisture conservation, nutrient management, or risk-reducing cropping practices) and improved crop varieties better suited to a more variable environment.
Does the opportunity include forest and rangeland systems, or only crops?
The scope includes agroecosystems and managed forest lands, and it is described as supporting farming, ranching, and forest land management adaptation to current and future conditions.
What is the expected emphasis on water and soil?
A strong emphasis is placed on water- and soil-related resilience, including improving efficiency in soil and water resource use and adapting to climate variability that can create drought and flooding stress.
What is the connection between climate adaptation and environmental quality in this program?
Projects are expected to connect climate adaptation with resource stewardship. The program describes resilience goals alongside improving or protecting soil, water, and air conditions, and reducing environmental impacts while sustaining production.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant, offered as a discretionary grant program.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.310.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 006353.
What is the maximum award amount?
The posted award ceiling is $1,200,000 per award.
How many awards will be made?
The listing notes the expected awards field but does not provide a specific number. Applicants are directed to consult the full Request for Applications (RFA) for program area allocations, target numbers of awards (if provided), and any additional budget guidance.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity record was created on April 17, 2017. The original closing date listed for applications was July 13, 2017.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility depends on the specific project type, and only entities that meet the eligibility rules may submit applications. The full range of project types and their eligibility requirements are described in the RFA (referenced as beginning in Part II, C).
Why is eligibility treated as a critical compliance point?
The notice states that failing to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline can cause an application to be excluded from consideration, or even if reviewed, can prevent NIFA from making an award.
Can an award recipient subcontract to organizations that are not eligible to apply?
Yes. The notice indicates that award recipients may subcontract to organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the work.
What must applicants align with to be competitive and compliant?
Applicants must directly address program area priorities and meet the deadlines laid out in the RFA. The description also suggests that stronger proposals align tightly with the RFA priorities, show clear pathways from research to usable outcomes for land managers, and explain how the work reduces risk and environmental impacts while sustaining production.
What does "on-the-ground improvements" mean in this context?
In this opportunity, it refers to results that can be used by producers and land managers in real settings, such as improved management systems (irrigation efficiency, soil moisture conservation, nutrient management, risk-reducing cropping practices) and improved crop varieties suited to variable conditions.
What kinds of stakeholders are expected to benefit from funded projects?
The program emphasizes informing decision-making by producers, land managers, and related stakeholders, with outputs that translate research and related activities into usable outcomes.
Where can applicants find the detailed project types, priorities, and budget guidance?
The notice points applicants to the full Request for Applications (RFA), including the eligibility discussion beginning in Part II, C, and other RFA sections for priorities, deadlines, and any program area allocations or budget guidance.
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